Other news: tights and shorts are SO in. It's pretty chilly here when the sun's not out, and the apartments don't have central heating, so dressing warmly is a must. I've seen many chicas rockin' the tights and shorts look that I definitely sported in second grade, when I refused to wear the long pants that were part of my school uniform (Mom can vouch for this). Who knew I could be so ahead of a fashion trend?
The living schedule here is definitely something to get used to. Spaniards eat small breakfasts and don't eat lunch until the siesta, which is between two and four in the afternoon. Then dinner, typically a smaller meal than lunch, isn't until nine or ten at night. All of this allows the "marcha" (nightlife) to continue until 7am on weekends. Also, the lifestyle is generally more relaxed than in America. After meals it's common to have a "sobremesa" which literally translates to "over the table". It's a time for the family to just sit and talk with one another for a while. I've found that two of the most popular pastimes in Spain are, in fact, eating and talking.
On Monday our group went to a Moorish tetería (like a café, but for tea) that offers many exotic teas and herbal infusions in a dimly lit, relaxing tea room. Just above this place was an outlook with a fantastic view of the Alhambra. We'll be taking a trip there as a group later on, so I'll have more pictures to add.
The World-Renowned Alhambra
Zoomed in on the left......
.....and zoomed in on the right.
At school, sometimes I find myself experiencing, "I can't believe I'm actually here" moments, when I take a minute to say a prayer of thanks for my many blessings. Here, I felt like that upon arrival and I still feel like that - it's like living one huge "I cannot fathom the idea that I AM IN SPAIN" moment. The opportunity to live and study here for five months is absolutely amazing. I miss my family and friends at home a ton, but I know it won't be long before I see them again.
Hopefully I won't have to wait that long to have some success at a zapatería! Moral of the story: If you'd like to follow in my footsteps, you're going to have to bring your own shoes ;)
